The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

News for 9 Jun 2011

FIDH and <em>Viasna</em> demand to stop cruel treatment and torture of Mikita Likhavid

09.06.2011 FIDH and Viasna demand to stop cruel treatment and torture of Mikita Likhavid

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Centre Viasna demand to stop cruel treatment and torture of political prisoner Mikita Likhavid

09.06.2011 Golden Lion denied registration again

The Hrodna Region Court didn't grant the appeal of the organization founders against the registration denial by the Hrodna Region Justice Department. The court explained it by referring to the absence of the description of the procedure of appealing against decisions of the governing structures of the NGO in its charter.

09.06.2011 Biaroza: the only Belarusian-language form closed down

The only form with the Belarusian language of instruction was closed down in secondary school #2 after four years of work. The form was established after Aleh Labovich, engineer of one of Biaroza enterprises, spent a year on correspondence with different scientific and educational institutions. 16 parents also signed for the establishment of the form.

09.06.2011 “Revolutions through social networks” held in Homel, Salihorsk, Mazyr and Babruisk

In Homel the protest action took place at the central square of the city at 7 p.m. on 8 June. More than 100 people answered the appeal of the Revolution through social network community in the social network Vkontakte by coming to the action. The majority of the action participants were youngsters, but there were also some elderly people. Following the conditions of the action the people brought no symbols and chanted no slogans. They just stood peacefully, talking to one another. The police didn't come to the action.

09.06.2011 Criminal case on mass riot: 7 accused, 13 suspects and 31 convicts (updated on 6 June)

According to information of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of 5 April, the preliminary investigation into the criminal case on the "mass riot" came to an end. Ten figurants received new, milder charges - under Article 342, part 1 (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate the public order). All of them were tried under this article and received different penalties: 1 – personal restraint (P.Seviarynets), 6 – imprisonment with determent, 6 – conditional imprisonment and 1 – 2 years of imprisonment (Dz.Bandarenka).